Environmental protection of surface water in the Mekong Delta

The Mekong River Delta (Mekong Delta) covers an area of ​​39,747 km ² , accounting for over 12% of the whole country area. It is a typical wetland area with over 90% of the area flooded by the flood season and under the tidal tide The Mekong River flows into the East Sea . This is a typical ecological economic region of the country, playing an extremely important role in socio-economic development of the country. However, water resources in this region are being changed both in status and quality . not only threatening sustainable socio-economic development but also affecting human health and ecosystems here.

The changed state of water decreases the water level in the main rivers in the dry season, the surface water quality deteriorates due to impacts from urban waste sources, industrial production, agriculture-forestry-fishery cultivation. . have not been thoroughly treated and continue to discharge into rivers and canals. The situation of salinization and localized alum has become more and more complicated, affecting many aspects of surface water quality in the Mekong Delta. The rational exploitation, use and protection of surface water resources in the Mekong Delta are becoming an extremely important task during the period of national industrialization and modernization. There are many issues that need to be solved synchronously.

In agriculture , the Mekong Delta has a cultivated area of ​​over 2.9 million hectares, the main source of irrigation water is fresh water on rivers and streams due to the flow of the Mekong River and heavenly water due to rain. Demand for water is increasing due to growing crop production (winter-spring rice, summer-autumn rice), animal husbandry . while we have not strictly controlled the quantity and quality of water for cultivation. Agriculture. In the Mekong Delta, water use is very arbitrary, the irrigation system does not meet the requirements of production . Therefore, it has led to a waste of water in the season, but in the dry season there is a serious shortage of water. Every year, the Mekong Delta uses about 2 million tons of chemical fertilizers and nearly 500,000 tons of plant protection drugs, which can cause environmental risks due to toxic chemical residues in the water environment.

In aquaculture , the whole region has freshwater and saltwater aquaculture areas of over 685,800 ha, producing nearly 1 million tons / year, with many different farming models. One thing that needs to be taken into consideration is that the higher the intensive farming models, the bigger the industrial scale is, the greater the amount of waste and the greater the risk to the water environment. Sources of waste after aquaculture have not been treated to meet the environmental standards and still be discharged into the rivers, canals and canals in the area (in the Mekong Delta region, according to the evaluation, it has been shown that annual discharge

The movement of raising catfish ponds spontaneously in many localities is also an important factor affecting the quality of surface water in the Mekong Delta.(Photo: HV)

456.6 million m ³ / waste sludge and aquaculture waste) cause bad impacts on the quality of water and epidemics.

In industrial production , in the Mekong Delta, there are more than 12,700 enterprises operating, strongly affecting the components of the environment, especially the water environment. In particular, there are 111 industrial parks and industrial production clusters, 119 seafood processing establishments with a capacity of 3,200 tons / day . using water sources in processing and production have discharged more than 47 million m3 of wastewater / year; urban areas and residential areas emit 102 million m3 / year. This amount of waste water has not been thoroughly treated, continues to be discharged into rivers, canals and canals, reducing surface water quality, causing diseases for aquaculture and especially harming people's health.

The large-scale shifting of aquaculture in coastal saline areas has also increased saline intrusion in coastal areas. The impact of coastal mangrove forest degradation continues to affect mangrove ecosystems. Raising fish rafts in rivers and streams, aquaculture in freshwater areas has caused impacts on water quality here. Saline intrusion increases in the dry season on large rivers (Tien River, Hau River and coastal rivers). In the coastal areas of the Mekong Delta, saline water in the dry season has reached 50-80 km inland.

According to the evaluation of scientific agencies, in the months of 3-5 years, due to high evaporation, salinity levels in the rivers continue to rise and become more complicated than in previous years. The water level of Tien and Hau rivers continues to be very low and difficult for fresh water for agricultural production and people's life. The shortage of fresh water, water exhaustion in the dry season continues to be more serious in many localities in the provinces of Long An, Tien Giang, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang .

In addition, people face environmental health problems in a water-dependent economy. Diseases: dengue fever, malaria, parasitic helminthiasis, child malnutrition, food poisoning . occur more and more popular in the Mekong Delta region.

To solve the problems of the state and quality of surface water in the Mekong Delta region, to ensure the efficient and sustainable exploitation and use of water resources according to us, within the country, should focus on solving The following basics:

It is necessary to carry out the Environmental Protection Planning associated with ecological zoning and the Mekong Delta Region Development Master Plan. Focusing on the following issues: Rational and sustainable use of freshwater resources in the Mekong River; zoning and planning the effective use of mangrove areas for fisheries development, mangrove ecosystem . with the issue of protecting ecological environment in coastal areas; accelerate irrigation planning for agricultural and aquacultural farming to ensure the supply and drainage requirements associated with the task of water environment treatment in agro-forestry-fishery farming systems.

In industrial production in industrial parks, industrial clusters and production, business and service facilities, it is necessary to strengthen the examination and inspection of the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection, ensuring ensure that treated waste sources must meet the prescribed environmental standards before being discharged into the environment. Resolutely handle enterprises and establishments causing serious environmental pollution and violations of the Law on Environmental Protection.

Carry out the planning of urban and residential areas, ensuring good treatment of domestic waste and wastewater. Well implementing the program of rural clean water and environmental sanitation, food hygiene and safety program . Strengthening the implementation of monitoring and monitoring surface water quality, assessing quality and status changes addressing environmental components, forecasting practical developments for cultivation production and environmental protection as well as the ability to respond to environmental incidents in a timely and highly effective manner.

PHAM DINH DON